Being Whole: Ritual, Respect, and Regulation

Imagine five days suspended between ocean and sky at Esalen Institute, where the work of becoming whole unfolds not as a destination, but as a practice you carry home. Being Whole: Ritual, Respect, and Regulation is a residential yoga retreat designed for those ready to meet themselves—body, breath, and being—with reverence and intention. Led by renowned yoga teachers Tracee Stanley and Elena Brower, alongside guest faculty Ally Bogard and Crystal Marie Higgins, this September 28–October 2 retreat weaves together asana, meditation, and yoga nidra with earth-centered wisdom and plant medicine teachings. Big Sur's dramatic coastal cliffs become your sanctuary—not for escape, but for the deep, grounded work of self-regulation and reconnection.

In our fragmented modern lives, wholeness feels like a luxury. This retreat repositions it as essential medicine. You'll move through days structured to awaken your nervous system, anchor your awareness, and teach your body the language of balance. Morning sessions emphasize embodied movement and breath awareness; afternoons deepen into dharma talks, herbal medicine classes, and forest-based learning rooted in plant allies and seasonal cycles. By the final day, you leave not with answers, but with a lived vocabulary of rituals and practices—grounded, somatic, real—that help you navigate change with grace and integrity.

What to Expect

Each day unfolds in layers, honoring both activity and rest. You'll practice asana in the company of skilled teachers who understand that yoga is a technology for regulation and self-respect. Guided meditations and yoga nidra sessions drop you into stillness; dharma talks weave together contemplative wisdom and practical insight. Guest faculty bring specialized knowledge of wild plant medicine and seasonal earth teachings, connecting your inner work to the larger cycles of nature. Mornings are energizing; afternoons invite reflection and learning; evenings encourage ease and integration. The retreat's philosophy is clear: ritual, respect for your body's signals, and genuine rest are not luxuries—they are tools for living whole amid complexity.

Venue & Logistics

This five-day residential retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California—one of the world's most transformative retreat settings, perched on dramatic coastal cliffs. The program runs Monday, September 28 through Friday, October 2, 2026. Wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement and outdoor time; bring layers for Big Sur's variable weather. Accommodations and meals are included. Please contact the event organizers regarding accessibility or dietary needs.